national convention 2019 revitalising rainfed …...padmashree awardee shri bharat bhushan tyagi,...
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National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA)
Government of India
National Institute of Agricultural
Extension Management (MANAGE)
National Convention 2019
REVITALISING RAINFED AGRICULTURERestructuring Policy and Public Investments to Address Agrarian Crisis
India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi | February 14 – 15, 2019
A Summary of the Proceedings
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INTRODUCTIONRevitalising Rainfed Agriculture (RRA) Network, formed in 2010, is a pan
India network with more than 600 members, that includes eminent
academics, policy makers, farmer and civil society organisations, working
for a prosperous and resilient rainfed agriculture. The network organized a
two-day National Convention on 14 and 15 February 2019 in New Delhi.
Dr. Ashok Dalwai, CEO, National Rainfed Area Authority, was the chief
guest of the programme. The other guests of the inaugural session were
Padmashree awardee Shri Bharat Bhushan Tyagi, Mr. Tomio Shichiri,
representative of FAO, UN, Smt. Leena Johri, Joint Secretary Department of
Rural Development, Government of India and Mr. Srinivas Iyer, Senior
Program Officer, Ford Foundation.
During the two days, sessions were conducted on 13 different themes.
There were two motives: first, to sensitize the attendees about the wide
variety of subjects that need to be dealt with respect to rainfed areas and,
second, to provide a platform for farmers, researchers, policy makers, etc.
for exchanging insights and experiences. So that some policy imperatives
would emerge, which can help in altering the current policy framework
governing the rainfed areas.
“We all need to put in efforts to bring in change [in current policy
framework],” said Dr. Dalwai in his inaugural address.
In the plenary session of the convention, the policy imperatives, emerged
from the discussions in the thematic sessions, were presented. The plenary
saw exalted guests like Dr. B. Venkateshwarlu, Ex-Director, CRIDA, Dr. Mihir
Shah, President, BRLF, Prof. Rajeshwari Raina, Shiv Nadar University, Mr.
Srinivasan Iyer, Ford Foundation and the Chief Guest of the convention, Dr.
Ashok Dalwai.
The guests spoke on varied subjects. A few of them were: ‘Research
priorities and appropriate technologies in rainfed agriculture’, ‘Future
priorities for rainfed agriculture’, ‘Knowledge-policy-practice continuums
for rainfed agroecosystems’, ‘Future of rainfed farmers in India’ and
‘Summarize: Key policy issues emerging for public investments in rainfed
areas’.
The success of this convention was that Dr. Dalwai took cognizance of the
imperatives presented during the conventions. He identified the need for
shift in current policy framework in his concluding talk: ‘Future strategies for
Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture’.
S P E A K E R S : I N A U G U R A L A N D P L E N A R Y
Dr. Ashok Dalwai C.E.O., National Rainfed Area Authority,
Govt. of India
Smt. Leena JohriJt. Secy., Dept. of Rural
Development, GoI
Dr. B. Venkateswarlu,Ex-Director, CRIDA
Tomio ShichiriFAO Representative in India,
United Nations
Dr. Mihir Shah, President, (BRLF)
Bharat Bhushan Tyagi Farmer and Padma Shri
Awardee
Srinivasan Iyer, Senior Program Officer, Ford
Foundation
Jagadananda,Mentor and Co-founder,
CYSD
Prof. Rajeswari S RainaShiv Nadar University
A. Ravindra,Executive Secretary, WASSAN
Dr. Sabyasachi DasNational Coordinator, RRA
Network and WASSAN
g g
WATER AS A DRIVING FORCE FOR REVITALISING RAINFED AGRICULTURE: A BLEND OF POLICY AND PRACTICE
K E Y I S S U E S A N D C H A L L E N G E S
Missing attention – on rainfed areas – in the current
programs; disparity in public investments between
irrigated and rainfed areas
Missing water policy for rainfed areas; centralized
water management
Changing mainstream discourse on water – in
rainfed areas – from ‘Blue Water’ to ‘Green Water’
or ‘Irrigation efficiency’ to ‘Rainfall efficiency’
through scientific validity, and outcomes in forms of
benefits to agrarian sector and livelihood
Financial disparity and misplaced policy context
and their effective consequences on rainfed areas
Water metric in rainfed areas: it cannot be
measured in TMC (or Cu. M), but to be measured in
units of soil moisture; lack of technology S P E A K E R S
E X P E R I E N C E S
ANANTAPUR, ANDHRA PRADESH
Protective irrigation, Critical irrigation
DEWAS, MADHYA PRADESH
Participatory Ground Water Management
(PGWM)
VIKARABAD, TELANGANA
Collectivisation of Groundwater
SIRMOUR, HIMACHAL PRADESH (INDIAN
HIMALAYAN REGION)
Springshed Management in mountain regions
U P Singh, Secretary, MoWR, RD &
GR, GoI.
K C Naik, Chairman, Central
Ground Water Board, MoWR, RD &
GR, GoI.
Dr B. Venkateshwarlu, Board Member, RRAN;
Former VC, VNMKV, Parbhani, Maharashtra
Dr. Raja Ram Deshmukh, Ex VC, MPKV, Tahuri
B Rath, Technical Expert, NRAA
Dr. KV Rao, PS, ICAR- CRIDA
PrametheshAmbastha, CEO – BRLF
Reshma Anand, CEO – HUF
Shaik Anwar, APPI
Jacob APPI
Bishwadeep Ghose,Director Programmes,
Arghyam
Ravindra A, Director, WASSAN
Vijay Shankar, SPS, Madhya Pradesh
Ramchandrudu MV, Director, WASSAN
Dr. Debashish Sen, PSI
C. Bakka Reddy, WASSAN
Girish Mohan, ITC Bengaluru
Dr.Yellamanda Reddy T, AF Ecology Centre,
Anantapur
Siddharth Patil, ACWADAM, Pune
Partik Kumar Fellow - RRA Network
1
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
Allocation of public investments in rainfed areas
should be on par with irrigated areas
Develop ‘Water Policy for Rainfed Areas’ as a
subset of National Water Policy, with focus on
protecting crops and surviving droughts
The national convention also brought out the
need for various donors / foundations/ CSR to
consider piloting such new paradigm in their
funded programs. The policy has to consider the
water spectrum – from rainfall to soil moisture,
from surface water to aquifers – as realm of its
management
The pilots (experiences) have to be taken up in
at least 100 rainfed districts
K E Y I S S U E S A N D C H A L L E N G E S
Too much focus on technologies to conserve
soils and not on improving national policies to
achieve food sovereignty and healthy
agroecosystems
Available technologies do not meet the local
need
Social systems like tenancy, massive subsidies
for chemicals precluded the opportunities for
farmers to think about soils as healthy living
systems
Soils continuing to lose quality in the
commodity centric, transnational-corporate-
governed food regimes
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
Initiating “living soils” pilots, 10 in each State.
Follow agro-ecological practices that maintain
a balanced relationship between soil, water
and biodiversity
Initiate farmer-to-farmer or inter-community
exchange of living soils practices, and agro-
ecological principles and practices
An overarching policy and framework: new
guidelines for the schemes and programmes
that are directly on soil conservation, soil organic
matter, organic farming, and integrated farming
– covering changes, inclusion and anticipation –
at agro-ecologically contiguous (district, block)
level.
Ensure State-specific payment for ecosystem
services to farmers in Living Soils consortia
through schemes like NREGA or PMKVY, assured
availability and access to locally produced
compost/biomass or Trichoderma cultures or
support in kind-and-cash for the essentials.S P E A K E R S
E X P E R I E N C E S
SONARAITHADI, JHARKHAND
Soil management techniques helped Jharkhand
farmer, Nandlal Singh, achieve good income
KHANDWA, MADHYA PRADESH
135 farmers practicing Conservation Agriculture
BANKURA, WEST BENGAL
From fertilizer to cattle feed, seeds to biofuel,
farmer Khepu Hembram produces everything –
input to output – from his farm itself.
ZAHEERABAD, TELANGANA
Soil conservation through permaculture
techniques
Bharat Bhushan Tyagi, Farmer and Padma
Shri Awardee
Dr. K. Sammi Reddy CRIDA- ICAR
Prof. Rajeswari S Raina, Shiv Nadar University
Ms. Richa Kumar, IIT Delhi
Bruno Dorin, CSH, Delhi
Dr. Om DamaniCTARA- IIT Bombay
Sharmila Regina Pondicherry
University
Channesh T S CPUS
ArdhendusekharChatterjee, DRSC, West
Ms. NiveditaVarshneya,
Welthungerhilfe
Narsanna KoppulaAranya Agricultural
Alternatives
Tarak Kate, Dharamitra
Krishna Kant, Abhivyakti
Kamlesh Panchole, AKRSP (I)
Jayesh Joshi, Vagdhara
Deepak Sharma, Independent
Consultant
AGROECOLOGY AND LIVING SOILS: THE POLICY PROBLEM2
K E Y I S S U E S A N D C H A L L E N G E S
Around 60-70% of India’s seed comes from
informal seed system, which is out of public
investment, knowledge and R&D
Nearly 500 different crops are cultivated in the
country. However, public investments are
concentrated on just 20% of the crops
Farmers’ varieties registered under the
PPV&FRA are not introduced into the seed
chain
Land races, which are both popular and
unpopular, are neither mapped nor registered
No separate standards/guidelines for
notification of farmers’ varieties
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
A committee has to be formed with
representatives of NRAA, MANAGE, Ministry of
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (Seeds) and RRA
Network to take the agenda forward.
For landraces, which are not registered, make
public investments to do socio-ecological
mapping of landraces, involve BMCs, SBBs, NBA,
NBPGR, SAUs, farmers’ organizations and civil
society organizations, design PGS-based quality
management system, in-situ conservation
PPVFRA should take an initiative to bring informal
seed into formal seed systems
Develop crop-specific seed standards for land
races
Relook at rules and norms: extend subsidy to even
varieties released 10 years ago
Promote participatory plant breeding programs
Create a charter – develop guidelines – for
landraces in the Seed Village Program with
dedicated budgetingS P E A K E R S
E X P E R I E N C E S
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ODISHA
Collection, purification and release of indigenous
paddy varieties and landraces. E.g. Kalachampa
(paddy) landrace
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ANDHRA
PRADESH
Promoting Navadhanya through Community
Managed Seed Systems
BHOPAL, MADHYA PRADESH (MP)
Operational framework of MP State Cooperatives
Seed Producers & Marketing Federation Ltd.
MAHARASHTRA
Model: building cadre for purification and
characterization of seeds
RC AgrawalRegistrar, PPV& FRAz
Dr. D.T. DeshmukhPDKV, Akola
Dr K Varaprasad, Former Director,
ICAR-IIOR
Dr. Vijay KumarIISS, Bhopal
Dr. Sudhir Pal Ahlawat
NBPGR, Delhi
Dr. Rajaram DeshmukhRtd VC,
MPKV, Rahuri
Dr. Sarath BabuNBPGR, Hyderabad
Dr. R. JagadeshwarDirector Research PJTSAU
VenkateshwaraPrasad,
Dept. of Agri., AP
Chakaradhar Panda, Dept. of Agri. & FW,
Odisha,
Kavitha KurugantiASHA Network,
Krishna Prasad, Sahaja Samrudha
Avil Borker, Maharashtra Gene Bank
Shailendra Tiwari, Seva Mandir
Dr. G.V. Ramanjaneyulu, CSA, Hyderabad
Bhagya Laxmi, WASSAN
Kanna Kumar S, Fellow, RRA Network
EVOLVING APPROPRIATE SEED SYSTEMS FOR CLIMATE RESILIENT AGRICULTURE TO STIMULATE GROWTH3
K E Y I S S U E S A N D C H A L L E N G E S
Maintaining millet productivity, without losing
diversity, in a sustainable – agro-ecological -
away
Processing technology for minor millets
Appropriate agro-ecological policy framework
for promotion of millets
Development of localized rural and urban
value chains
Increasing local consumption in the context of
migration and generational change
Development of procedure for inclusion of
millets in ICDS, MDM, PDS etc.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
Creation of pool of experts who can support
various state-level and district-level initiatives
on localizing the package of practices
Development of technical standards for
different level of processing machines – from
threshing to value addition
Special packages should be developed for
entrepreneurs/start-ups involved in millet
processing
Odisha Millets Mission type of model may be
adopted by different state governments and
multilateral agencies. Suitable changes may
be made as per local situations
A National Support Group should be formed
with stakeholders having experience in millet
promotion to support the millet initiatives in the
other states
S P E A K E R S
E X P E R I E N C E S
NASIK, MAHARASHTRAEven in drought conditions with appropriate farm
management practices, crops thrived and
productivity has increased. For example, the finger
millet average production has increased from 2.4
quintals to 7.9 quintals
SRIKAKULAM, ANDHRA PRADESH Value addition to the produce with processing and
marketing linkages – confectionary, bakery items like
cookies
OMM, ODISHAThe productivity of millets has increased three-fold
with efficient farm practices and processing support.
MISSION SHAKTI, ODISHAIt was a millets based food stall set up inside the
Kalinga Stadium by the State Programme Secretariat
in collaboration with SHG members from Trishakti
Federation to popularize millet recipes amongst
urban audiences
Chair: Dr Saurabh Garg
PS, Agriculture & FE Dept Govt. of Odisha
Frew Behabtu, Programme Officer,
IFAD
Raman Ahuja, Consultant,
FAO
Anushuman Patnaik, DAFP, Odisha
Jacob Nellithanam, Richharia Campaign
Ms. Ashwini Kulkarni, Pragati Abhiyan
Dr Bijay Kumar Nayak, DHAN Foundation
Sibaprasad Sahu, Ahinsa Club
Chair: Prabhakar Adhikari,
Pragati
VikramSankarnarayanaDirector, Borne Technologies
Chitta Babu, NCDS
Susanta Choudhury, WASSAN
Ms AashimaChoudhury, WASSAN
B Srinivas, Manyam Grains
Chair: Dinesh Balam,
Odisha Millets Mission (OMM)
REVIVING MILLETS IN FARMS, AND ON PLATES4
K E Y I S S U E S A N D C H A L L E N G E S
Research: CGAIR and other formal institutes do
not recognize the need for research and
scientific validation of SCI for productivity,
nutrient management and water productivity.
Policy operationalization: Lack of local context
specific machinery, knowledge systems are
missing which has hindered the
implementation of SRI through government
schemes.
Institutions: Lack of recognition of community
based organization
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
“Innovation, Inclusion, Institutions and
Investment”
Increase research in Genotype based SRI,
Integrated SRI, scientific validation of other
crops (other than Rice and Wheat), and nutrient
management. Agro-ecology should be made a
part of ICAR curriculum
Policy operationalization for following SCI
practices:
o Focus on bringing behavioural change
among the farmers. Follow the steps taken for
promoting Green Revolution
o MSP needs to be ensured for oilseeds and
pulses
o Policy must be created to accord the status of
“farmer” to women
o Adequate financial support at the right stages
during the plant growth period
o Community Hiring Centres to keep
appropriate machines available to the
farmers
Institutional arrangement:
o Establishment of community based extension
system
o Role of women - impetus to woman land rights
and Mahila Sashaktikaran Programme
o Investments to skill local, spend on identifying
master farmers, progressive farmers etc.
o Investments on capacity building and
establishment of community based extension
and service systems.S P E A K E R S
E X P E R I E N C E S
Dr. S K Malhotra Agriculture
Commissioner, MoA, GoI
G.S. N Ayyengar, Chief Secretary,
Government of Tripura
Dr. S. S Rathore(IARI)
Ashok Methil(Ex.CGM, NABARD)
Dr. Mahender Kumar (IIRR)
Baharul Islam Majumder(Tripura)
Dr. T M Thiyagarajan(Dean, Agricultural
Sciences, SRM, Chennai)
Dr. Amod Thakur (IIWM, Bhubaneswar)
Prof. Shambu Prasad (IRMA, Anand)
Dr. Ravi ChopraChair: (PSI)
Apoorva Oza(AKRSP-I)
Mr. Jacob Nellithenam(Chhattisgarh)
Nityanand Dhal(PRADAN, New Delhi)
Shiv Prakash (PRAN, Bihar)
Prabhakar Adhikari(Pragati, Odisha)
Dr. Debashish Sen (NCS & PSI)
Ms. Mithla Yadav (Farmer, M.P.)
Dhruba Charan Naik(Farmer, Odisha)
Dinesh BalamWASSAN
Ms Seema Ravandale(PSI)
VARIOUS AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES IN THE
COUNTRY
ICPS like SCI has proved to be - sustainable,
climate resilient, sound agro-ecological
approaches. It can be one of the technique to
achieving the doubling farmers’ income goal.
TAMIL NADU
Private sector’s support to the Sustainable
Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) by providing inputs and
buy back arrangements.
JIVIKA PROGRAMME, BIHAR
Locally trained resource persons have been
pivotal in upscaling the programme reaching to
nearly 5,00,000 farmers.
INNOVATIVE CROP PRODUCTION SYSTEMS FOR LIVELIHOOD SECURITY OF RAINFED FARMERS5
K E Y I S S U E S A N D C H A L L E N G E S
Dairy development, or popular White
Revolution narrative: Milk produced through
intensified, stall-fed practices using crossbred
varieties makes livestock sector better and
enhances livelihoods.
Disintegration of livestock from farming
systems, and increased mechanization.
Shrinking of commons, and access to
customary grazing resources.
Lack of decentralized preventive healthcare,
and services – fodder and grazing area
development.
Missing coordination between agriculture and
animal husbandry departments.
Insufficient public [institutes] research on the
features of extensive livestock systems like their
contribution in improving soil health, adaptive
traits of indigenous breeds, etc.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
Indigenous livestock breeds have to be
promoted in extensive system and their habitat
has to be treated in the same way as breed
conservation
A national fodder policy and states’ fodder
policies
Fodder development with the support of forest
and revenue departments in every state in
community-based, participatory-led
approach
Develop community-based backyard desi
poultry to secure livelihoods
Mapping of lesser known livestock population
in mission mode through collaborative
processes
S P E A K E R S
Dr. Kachhia Patel,Director, AHD, Govt. of
Gujarat
Dr. Vineet Bhasin, PS, (AG&B), ICAR HQ
Dr. D. K. Sadana, Board Member RRA
Network
Dr. Chalapathi Rao, DD, AH Dept., Govt. of A.P.
Ramesh Bhatti, Sahjeevan
Kaustubh Pandharipande, Samvedana
Sanjeev Kumar, Goat Trust
Vivek Barve, AKRSP I
Dr. Sabyasachi Das, National Coordinator
RRAN
Chetanand Jha, FES
Sajal Kulkarni, YP, RRA Network
E X P E R I E N C E S
GUJARAT
Experiences of characterization and conservation
model
EXPERIENCES OF BANNI BUFFALO BREEDERS
Association, Kharai Camel Breeders Association and
Gaolao Cattle Breeders Association
SAMVEDNA, MAHARASHTRA
Conservation of lesser known florican bird and
grassland development in Samvedana district, which
state?
SERVICE DELIVERY AT LAST MILE
Design service delivery up to last mile with the help of
trained local person, like Prani Mitra, Pashu Sakhi,
para workers etc.
VISHAKAPATNAM, ANDHRA PRADESH
Desi Poultry: A Livelihood model with high potential
for tribal farmers of Coastal Andhra
EXTENSIVE LIVESTOCK SYSTEM: SECURING LIVELIHOODS AND LIVESTOCK DIVERSITY IN RAINFED AGRICULTURE6
K E Y I S S U E S A N D C H A L L E N G E S
Non-availability of working capital to the
farmers’ organizations and Self Help Groups to
take the existing ponds/tanks on lease
Existing community based tanks have multiple
ownerships, which makes the waterbodies
underutilised and unused for fish cultivation.
Disputes occur and auction does not happen
Inadequate and no updated data available
on fish production, household consumption
and market development, lack of
technical/trained people in the rural areas
Fisheries – small and seasonal water bodies in
rainfed areas – have not been included in
national development initiatives
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
There should be an inclusive, habitat development
approach for sustainability – i.e. depending on the
water body inflows, local food systems, environment
an ecosystem has to be developed around fisheries.
Creation of an institutional mechanism to build a
comprehensive database – on resources,
production, sales etc.
Special programs in Central India and Eastern India.
The government should come up with a special
program like Central and Eastern Indian rainfed
fisheries program covering regions like Vidarbha.
Revision of existing water usage policy with respect to
minimum water level in the water bodies for fisheries
use.
Potential of fisheries in rainfed areas has to be taken
into account while planning watershed works, based
on ecosystems
In an integrated approach, promote and develop:
entrepreneurship, value chain, farmers’ involvement,
fisheries extension services, financial products,
convergence of various rural development programs
like NREGS, rights-based community participation
etc. to make fisheries a sustainable one in rainfed
areas.S P E A K E R S
E X P E R I E N C E S
MALKANGIRI, ODISHA
Fish Nursery: Earnings for Odisha Farmer, Security
for his Peers
MANIKA (BLOCK), JHARKHAND
Revives Hope For Livelihoods: Fisheries Nursery in a
Remote Jharkhand Village
PALAMU, JHARKHAND
A New Identity Through Fisheries
SRIKAKULAM, ANDHRA PRADESH
ITDA has taken up fisheries programme among
tribal communities
Chief Guest:Dr. J.K. Jeena
DDG, ICAR Fisheries
Dr. Dileep KumarAdvisor, Bihar Animal Science Univ.
Dr N K Barik CIFA
Dr GH Pailan,CIFE, Kolkata
Manish Rajankar, MD, BNSAM, Bhandara
Prof. Sachin Belsare, F.Sc. College, Nagpur
Smita Shewta, PD, JSLPS, Jharkhand
Prof. Swapnil Ghatge,F.Sc. College Udgir
Niraj Kumar VermaExpert, Govt. of Jharkhand
P.K. DasFishery Expert, Chhattisgarh
Ashrita Tirkey and Ramani Ranjan Nayak,
VSK and WASSAN
Bidhya Bhushan Dutta,WASSAN
FISHERIES: DEVELOPING FRAMEWORK FOR TAPPING RAINFED WATER BODIES TO ENHANCE HOUSEHOLD INCOMES7
K E Y I S S U E S A N D C H A L L E N G E S
Livelihood interventions are carried out in
sector specific approach than a local area
based approach. It becomes limiting to
contextualized solutions and thus, a barrier for
the majority, especially the poorer families to
participate
In many cases, SHGs have not graduated to
the next level; efforts in this direction seem
inadequate
Limited success in sustaining group micro-
enterprises and its ecosystems
Government’s transfer of assets without
backward and forward linkage of services
Lack of customized financial products and
inappropriate financial plans push farmers into
debt
E X P E R I E N C E S
KORAPUT, ODISHA
PRADAN's model helps farmers achieve better
incomes by empowering women
ANUPPUR, MADHYA PRADESH
Tribal farmer from Madhya Pradesh benefits
through Farmers Producers Groups
VISHAKAPATNAM, ANDHRA PRADESH
Desi Poultry: A Livelihood model with high
potential for tribal farmers of coastal Andhra
DANG, GUJARAT
AKRSP (I) seeks to empower Tribal farmers through
backyard poultry
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
Planning, agricultural extension services,
knowledge sharing, farm-based technologies,
asset creation, farm-gate processing etc. should
be done with peoples’ participation to strengthen
– and redesign if required – existing programmes:
MGNREGS, NRLM, IWMP, NHM etc.
Take integrated approach – NRM production
system: agriculture, fisheries, livestock, forest
produce etc. livelihood creation – to create
and promote entrepreneurship, financial support,
and market access: linkages, ease and feasibility
in rainfed areas
Introducing ‘Right to Livelihoods’; Guaranteeing
Minimum Income out of Livelihood Intervention
Forming region wise integrated natural resource
management department under which
agriculture/livestock/forestry/water departments
function and provide single window to the rural
community
Alok De, Lead - Livelihoods, NRLM
Apoorva OzaCEO AKRSP-l (as chair)
Ardhendu Chatterjee, DRCSC
Achintya Ghosh, Director, Kabil
Ms. Nafisa Barot, Former Director, Utthan
Ved Arya, Former CEO, SRIJAN
Animesh Mondal, SPS
Naveen Patidar, AKRSP (I)
Ms. Monisha, PRADAN
Bharat, SRIJAN
S P E A K E R S
INTEGRATING THEMES OF RAINFED AGRICULTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS8
K E Y I S S U E S A N D C H A L L E N G E S
Characteristics of rainfed agriculture produce:
small marketable surplus, multiple products,
varied value chains, limited season,
fragmented supply chain, diverse and
inconsistent quality, last mile challenges in
connecting produce to markets, role vs value
of middle men
Unavailability of specialised financial products
that meet diverse needs of FPOs, within
mainstream banks and financial institutions
Low investment in village and cluster-level
infrastructure for storage, processing and
value-addition of produce
Reset the vision from large is efficient to small is
adequate, agile
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
Provision of long-term working capital from
appropriate agencies
Mainstream banks and other institutions to
develop a range of financial and risk
guarantee products that take into account
geographical and agricultural produce
diversity
Balancing scale and diversity while
determining optimisation of interventions
Allocation and efficient disbursement of public
funds like RIDF for building local level post-
harvest infrastructure in rainfed areas
Allocation of funds for agencies providing
capacity-building support to FPOs and other
local cadreS P E A K E R S
E X P E R I E N C E S
PROCIF, 3-FOLD MODELS
Incubation support and ecosystem services to
FPOs
CREDIT LINKAGES: CAPACITY-BUILDING
SUPPORT TO FPOS
Enable appropriate credit linkages with
mainstream banks and financial institutions,
without creating long-term dependency on
supporting agency
MARKET LINKAGES: CAPACITY-BUILDING
SUPPORT TO FPOS
Enable diverse market linkages such as eNAM,
NCDEX, APMCs etc., without creating long-term
dependency on supporting agency
Dr T N Prakash Kammardi Karnataka
Agriculture Price Commission
Manish TripathiNCDEX
P V S SuryakumarNABARD
Rishabh Sood,RabobankFoundation
NilanjanChaudhury,
FWWB
Dr Shambu Prasad IRMA
Shirish JoshiConsultant
Ms Avni Malhotra, Heifer International
Mr Pranjit Talukdar Heifer International
Siddharth KumarHeifer
International
Balakrishnan, VRUTTI
Heeralal ChoubisaAmla Utpadak FPO
Pratheek Abraham, IFHD
Ms. ChitrangnaDewan Development
Alternatives
Ashwini ChandakEcociate
Hari RajagopalSamunnati
FUTURE FORWARD: MARKETS AND INSTITUTIONS IN RAINFED CONTEXT9
K E Y I S S U E S A N D C H A L L E N G E S
Since Green Revolution, public investments
have been biased towards irrigated
agriculture
Agricultural subsidies hardly reach rainfed
farmers – majority of them are small and
marginal landholders
Poor extension services, knowledge base,
quality research, and trainings have bypassed
rainfed agriculture
Agricultural inputs, and benefits from it, have
been reaching to large farmers mostly
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
All schemes, which have subsidies, should
have rainfed attributes/features
In the existing schemes, public investments
must be prioritized in favour of rainfed
agriculture
Investments to improve livestock extension
services – research, training, knowledge –
backyard poultry and desi-birds enterprises
Investments to create storage facilities for
rainfed produce
Increase investments to procure coarse
cereals, pulses, oilseeds and other rainfed
crops.
Prof Abhijeet Sen (Retd), JNU
Pallavi Mali, Ministry of Agriculture, GoI
Nilachala Acharya, CBGA India
Partha Saha, Ambedkar University
Subrat Das, CBGA India
Anshuman Pattnayak, Odisha Millet Mission, Directorate of
Agriculture, Govt of Odisha
Nesar Ahmad, BARC Rajasthan
Amitabh Mishra, GDS, Lucknow
Narasimha Hegde, IFHD, Karnataka
Ashwini Kulkarni, Pragati Abhiyan
Jagadananda, CYSD
Basanta K Nayak, CYSD
Barsha Mohanty, CYSD
S P E A K E R S
ISSUES AND CONCERNS FOR RAINFED AGRICULTURE IN INDIA: POLICY AND BUDGETARY PRIORITIES10
K E Y I S S U E S A N D C H A L L E N G E S
All India Coordinated Research Project
(AICRP) centres has been developing number
of implements – based on utilisation of animal
energy (UAE) for rainfed cropping systems.
However, only 15% rainfed farmers are aware
of the implements.
Although, the country, home to several
indigenous draught animal breeds, they were
not promoted since 1980. Primarily, the
research was on milch breeds.
Currently, draught animals are used in 60% of
cultivable area i.e. 100 million hectares. But the
attention is on farm mechanization – usage of
tractors, power tillers etc.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
Besides research centres, local fabricators play
a crucial role in design and development of
farm implements. Therefore, they should be
available locally to cater to farmers’ need.
In the Custom Hiring Centre guidelines, list of
animal drawn implements should be added.
Implements design – local fabricator, industry,
ICAR – has to be done with farmers’
participation to meet farmers their requirement.
S P E A K E R S
E X P E R I E N C E S
Under National Innovations in Climate Resilient
Agriculture (NICRA), custom hiring centres were
established in Nandurbar district, Maharashtra.
Farmers can hire implements from here.
Dr. Kanchan K SinghADG (FE), ICAR, New
Delhi
Dr. B.S. Prakash, Ex-ADG (ANP), ICAR New Delhi
Dr. G. Singh, Ex-Director, CIAE, Ex-ADG (Farm Machinery), ICAR,
New Delhi
Dr.Sanjeeva Reddy Principal Scientist, Farm
Engineering Division, CRIDA
Dr. M. DinProject Coordinator,
AICRP on Utilisation of Animal Energy, CIAE, Bhopal
Dr. Jayant N. Uttarwar, KVK Scientist,
Nandurbar, Maharashtra
Mr. Puneet Sharma, Panchal Pumps, Kanpur
Shri Sunil Shinde,Grassroot innovator of animal
drawn implements, Jalana, Maharashtra
Mr. Chandrashekhar, WASSAN
Dr. Anushree Singh, Program Associate (Policy
Research), WASSAN
DRAUGHT ANIMAL USE IN RAINFED AGRICULTURE: POTENTIAL AND POLICY IMPERATIVE11
K E Y I S S U E S A N D C H A L L E N G E S R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
S P E A K E R S
E X P E R I E N C E S
BalramAdvisor to Government
of Jharkhand
Dr. Jitendra RamgaokarDFO, Thane Maharashtra
Dr. Neeraj HatekarProfessor, Mumbai
University
Ayush PrasadS.D.M, Akola, Maharashtra
Dashrathi BeheraOdisha Jungle Manch
Giri RaoVasundhara, Odisha
Abhinandan Saikia, Asst. Professor TISS ,
Guwahati
Keshav GurnuleConvenor Shristi, Gadchiroli
Pravin Mote,Director, CPC
Pravat MishraRCDC, Odisha
K. LaxmanWassan
Geetanjoy SahuTISS Mumbai
Sanghamitra DubeyIndependent Researcher
Debjit NandiNavrachna
Rajesh YadavBadlao Foundation
Tushar Dash Independent researcher
Recognition of rights, particularly on community forest
resource, rights very poor; limits tribal communities’ access
to schemes affecting livelihoods, employment and income
generation.
Exclusion of rights of: particularly vulnerable tribal groups
and pre-agricultural communities, nomadic and pastoral
communities, women, other traditional forest dwellers
(dalits), residents of forest and un-surveyed villages and
displaced communities in the FRA implementation.
No adequate awareness/information and institutional
support, at Gram Sabha/community level, on the provisions
for post claim support, and various programs and schemes
meant for the right holders.
The soul of FRA is not induced into government policies,
planning and budget; Centre and State governments have
not taken steps to ensure allocation of funds to the Gram
Sabha(s) under MGNREGA, CAMPA, TSP etc.
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016, National Forest
Policy, land banks, diversion of forest land etc. are affecting
tribal communities’ rights and creating obstacles for FRA
implementation.
MAHARASHTRA, ODISHA
• Post claim support to tribal and forest dwelling
communities through government programs and schemes
for transforming livelihoods and economic development
• Gram Sabhas have formed committees under FRA and
have taken up forest conservation and eco-restoration
measures, Gram-Sabha-based planning for IFR and CFR
lands, effective management strategies and institutional
support by the government agencies
• District level convergence committees to ensure
coordination between government departments and to
converging programs for forest rights holders’ livelihoods
support
• Maharashtra government has allocated funds directly to
Gram Sabhas under TSP
• Governments of Maharashtra and Odisha have issued
guidelines and Government Orders to ensure support to
the forest rights holders
• Recognition of forest rights, particularly CFR rights, should
be scaled up.
• Both the Central Government (Ministry of Tribal Affairs and
other concerned ministries) and State Governments
should formulate comprehensive policies, create
enabling institutional structures to provide support to the
forest rights holders. The policy measures should be based
on local needs, diversity of livelihoods resources and the
ecology. [Experiences and best practices from Odisha,
Maharashtra and other states should be drawn and used
for upscaling efforts for supporting forest rights holders]
• All forest development funds (CAMPA) as well as other
funds (MGNREGA, TSP) should be allocated to the Gram
Sabhas for developing individual and community forest
land.
• Enactments and policies which are in conflict with the
FRA such as CAF 2016 should be repealed
POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL INTERVENTION FOR FOREST RIGHTS HOLDER IN RAINFED AREAS12
K E Y I S S U E S A N D C H A L L E N G E S
All India Coordinated Research Project
(AICRP) centres has been developing number
of implements – based on utilisation of animal
energy (UAE) for rainfed cropping systems.
However, only 15% rainfed farmers are aware
of the implements.
Secondary datasets on themes of rainfed
agriculture.
Lack of datasets on cost of cultivation,
investment in irrigation, livelihood,
groundwater etc. in rainfed areas.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
To include more granular data, insight on
beneficiaries, schemes, inclusion of primary data
and inclusion of data from private organisations.
S P E A K E R S
E X P E R I E N C E S
Rainfed agricultural data centre
Rainfed India Data portal (rainfed.net): These
datasets range from state level to sub-district
level over different time periods.
o Mapping Portal - PCA, SECC, AG census
datasets exist for a specific time period.
o Trend Portal - Rainfall and temperature (1984-
2013) and APY (1996-97 to 2015-16)
o Compare Portal - Compare data in two
different geographic locations. Currently we
have APY data for comparison
Nabin Pradhan, ISB
Shreya Basu,ISB
INTRODUCTION TO RAINFED ATLAS, AND UNDERSTANDING RAINFED DATA CENTER13
SUMMARY
The National Convention on Revitalizing Rainfed Agriculture Network was
the perfect platform – and moment – to deliberate on the RRA Network’s
decade-long experiences in Policy, Research and Practice. It was an
opportunity to show the proof of concept – on all the themes. It was very
clear from the convention proceedings that rainfed agriculture needs a
paradigm shift – not in small ways but at large scale.
In all the themes, rainfed farmers’ stories, civil society organizations’
initiatives, several state governments’ role and experiences of several other
participants had been discussed. The focus was on how we have
partnered, worked with several state governments to design and deliver
programs relevant to rainfed areas. Currently public investments for those
programs are to the tune of Rs. 2,000 crores.
Three critical points emerged were emerged from the convention:
1) Diversity and decentralization are the strengths of rainfed agriculture
2) Rainfed agriculture is marginalized and vulnerable
3) Rainfed areas are underinvested
It was widely agreed that public investments in rainfed agriculture could
improve production, productivity and growth rate. Also, marketing
infrastructure, technology, extension services, groundwater governance
etc. can be built. Therefore, the consensus was to invest on crops, livestock,
soils, water, fisheries, seeds etc. in a comprehensive, integrated approach.
To that end, the RRA Network., National Rainfed Area Authority (NRRA),
National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Indian
Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and its associated institutions have
agreed to work together to revitalize rainfed agriculture in India.
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R R A N e t w o r k H u b
C / o W A S S A N
2 n d F l o o r , H . N o . 1 2 - 1 3 - 3 0 9 , S t . N o . 1 9 ,
H y d e r a b a d - 5 0 0 0 1 7
E m a i l : s e c r e t a r i a t @ r a i n f e d i n d i a . o r g
P r o j e c t M a n a g e m e n t U n i t ( P M U )
I S T , C / o J A N V I K A S
C / 1 0 5 / 1 0 6 , R o y a l C h i n m a y
S i m a n d h a r T o w e r s , B o d a k d e v ,
V a s t r a p u r , A h m e d a b a d – 3 8 0 0 5 4
E m a i l : r r a n p m u @ g m a i l . c o m
Thank you